Prime Minister's Office
English rendering of PM’s address at the closing ceremony of centenary celebrations of Gita Press in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh
श्री हरिः। वसुदेव सुतं देवं, कंस चाणूर-मर्दनम्।
देवकी परमानन्दं, कृष्णं वंदे जगद्गुरुम्॥
Hon’ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath ji, Shri Keshoram Aggarwal ji of Gita Press, Shri Vishnu Prasad ji, Member of Parliament Ravi Kishan ji, other dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen!
The holy month of Sawan, the blessings of Lord Indra, the abode of Lord Shiva's incarnation Guru Gorakhnath, and the land of numerous saints—this is Gita Press, Gorakhpur! When the blessings of saints manifest, we experience such joyous occasions. My visit to Gorakhpur this time is a remarkable example of the policy of ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’ . I have been fortunate to release the pictorial Shiva Purana and the Shiva Purana in the Nepali language. I will visit Gorakhpur Railway Station after this event of Gita Press.
The modernization work of Gorakhpur Railway Station is commencing today, and ever since I shared its pictures on social media, people have been amazed by it. The people had never imagined that railway stations could undergo such a transformation. And in the same program, I will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Gorakhpur to Lucknow. And at the same time, the Vande Bharat Express running between Jodhpur and Ahmedabad will also be flagged off. Vande Bharat train has offered a new flight of comfort and convenience to the middle class people of our country. There was a time when political leaders would write letters requesting a halt of a particular train in their constituencies. Today, leaders from across the country write letters to me, requesting the introduction of Vande Bharat in their constituencies. Vande Bharat has become a craze. For all these events, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Gorakhpur and the people of our nation for organizing all these events.
Friends,
Gita Press is the only printing press of its kind in the world, which is not just an institution but a living faith. The office of Gita Press is no less than a temple for millions of people. It carries the essence of the Bhagavad Gita in its name as well as work. And where there is Gita, there is Krishna in person. And where there is Krishna, there is compassion and action. There is the awakening of knowledge and the research of science. Because the verse of the Gita says, ‘Vasudevah Sarvam’ — everything is Vasudev . Everything is from Vasudev, and everything exists within Vasudev.
Brothers and sisters,
The spiritual light that lit up here in the form of Gita Press in 1923, today its light is guiding the entire humanity. We are fortunate to be witnesses of this centenary celebration of this humanitarian mission. On this historic occasion, our government has also honoured Gita Press with the Gandhi Peace Prize. Gandhi ji had a deep emotional connection with Gita Press. At one time, Gandhi ji used to write for Gita Press through the Kalyan Patrika. I am informed that it was Gandhi ji who suggested that no advertisements be published in Kalyan Patrika. Even today, Kalyan Patrika faithfully follows the advice of Gandhi ji. I am pleased that Gita Press has received this award today. It is an honour from the nation to Gita Press, recognition of its contributions, and a tribute to its 100-year legacy. Over these 100 years, Gita Press has published crores of books. Some estimates put the figure at 70 crore, some at 80 crore, and some at 90 crore! This number can surprise anyone. And these books are sold at a lower cost than their value and reach every household. You can imagine how many people must have found spiritual and intellectual fulfillment through this flow of knowledge, how it must have shaped numerous dedicated citizens for society. I congratulate those personalities who have selflessly supported this endeavour without any publicity. On this occasion, I also pay my respects to eminent figures like Seth Jayadayal Goyanka and Bhaiji Hanuman Prasad Poddar.
Friends,
An institution like Gita Press is not only associated with religion and action but also holds a national character. Gita Press connects India, strengthens India's unity. It has 20 branches across the country. We can find Gita Press stalls at railway stations in every nook and corner of the country. It publishes around 1600 publications in 15 different languages. Gita Press disseminates the core values of India in various languages, reaching the masses. In a way, Gita Press represents the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’.
Friends,
Gita Press has completed its journey of 100 years at a time when the country is celebrating 75 years of its independence. Such synchronicities are not mere coincidences. Before 1947, India had made continuous efforts in various fields for its renaissance. Different organizations took shape to awaken the soul of India. The result of this was that by 1947, India was fully prepared to break the chains of mental and psychological slavery. The establishment of Gita Press played a significant role in this. A hundred years ago, the centuries-long subjugation had clouded the consciousness of India. You are aware that even hundreds of years ago, foreign invaders had burned down our libraries. Gurukuls and the Guru tradition were almost destroyed during the British era. In such circumstances, it was natural that knowledge and heritage were on the verge of extinction. Our revered scriptures had started disappearing. The printing presses that were in India were beyond the reach of the common man due to the high cost. Imagine how our society would function without the presence of the Gita and Ramayana? When the sources of values and ideals dry up, the flow of society tends to stagnate automatically. However, friends, we must remember one thing. In our timeless journey of India, there have been many stages where we have emerged refined and enhanced. Unrighteousness and terror have become more powerful on several occasions, and the clouds of crisis have overshadowed truth. But in those times, our greatest belief comes from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita itself: यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत। अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽऽत्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥ That is, whenever there is a crisis on the authority of religion, on the authority of truth, then God appears to protect it. And the tenth chapter of the Gita reveals that God can manifest in various forms. Sometimes saints come to show a new direction to society, and sometimes institutions like Gita Press are born to revive human values and ideals. That is why, when Gita Press began its work in 1923, it accelerated the flow of consciousness and contemplation in India. Our religious scriptures, including the Gita, started resonating in every household again. The mind of India once again experienced a stirring. These scriptures gave rise to family traditions, and new generations started connecting with our sacred texts, becoming the torchbearers of future generations.
Friends,
Gita Press is proof that when your objectives are sacred and your values are pure, success becomes synonymous with you. Gita Press is an institution that has consistently enriched social values and shown people the path of duty. Whether it's about the cleanliness of the Ganges, the science of yoga, the publication of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the ‘Arogya Ank’ related to Ayurveda, the ‘Jeevancharya Ank’ to familiarize people with the Indian way of life, the ‘Seva Ank’ and ‘Daan Mahima’ to strengthen the ideals of service in society, the inspiration of nation-building has remained connected behind all these efforts.
Friends,
The penance of the saints is never in vain; their resolutions are never in vain. It is due to these very resolutions that today our India is establishing new dimensions of success every day. I had said from the ramparts of the Red Fort, and you will remember, I had said from the Red Fort that this is the time to free ourselves from the mentality of slavery and take pride in our heritage. And that is why, even in the beginning also, I said that today the country is moving forward with both development and heritage. Today, on one hand, India is creating new records in digital technology, and on the other hand, the divine form of Kashi's Vishwanath Dham is also manifesting before the nation after centuries. We are building world-class infrastructure, and at the same time, we are witnessing the grandeur of pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath and Mahakal Mahalok. Our dream of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya is going to be fulfilled after centuries. Even after 75 years of independence, we were still carrying the insignia of slavery on the ensign of our Navy. We were following English traditions in the capital Delhi, next to the Indian Parliament. We have worked to change them with full confidence. We have given our heritage, Indian ideas the place they deserve. That is why, now the flag of India's Navy displays the symbol from the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Now the Rajpath of the era of slavery is inspiring the spirit of duty by becoming the Kartavya Path. Today, Tribal Freedom Fighters Museums are being set up across the country to honour the tribal tradition of the country. The ancient holy idols that were stolen and taken out of our temples are also returning to our temples. The idea of a developed and spiritual India that our sages and seers have given us, today we are seeing it becoming meaningful. I believe that the spiritual practices of our saints, sages, and monks will continue to provide energy to the all-round development of India. We will build a new India and make our vision of global welfare a success. All of you have given me the opportunity to come among you on this holy occasion, and I am fortunate to spend some moments in this holy work. I once again sincerely thank all of you from the bottom of my heart and extend my heartfelt wishes to all of you.
DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered in Hindi.